Mortimer memorial unveiled at Taitua Arboretum

Was a great honour to attend the unveiling of the Mortimer Memorial at Taitua Arboretum in late September. A number of speakers, including Hamilton Mayor Tim Macindoe, pictured below, acknowledged the amazing vision and effort work of the late John and Bunny Mortimer in creating the amazing 20-hectare park full of many species of mature trees.  

John and Bunny, who both lived into their 90s, were the first donors to Momentum Waikato back in 2015, when they set up the Mortimer Taitua Fund to support the ongoing development of the Arboretum. This was an early vote of confidence in Momentum for which we have always been really grateful.

To get a good online look of the Mortimer Memorial, check out the two short videos now at momentumwaikato.nz/mortimertaituafund, where you can also find out more about Taitua and its Fund.

Bunny and John, pictured above, started planting trees and shrubs on the then-family farm west of Hamilton in the early 1970s. They spent decades collecting seeds and cuttings from across New Zealand and around the world, nurturing and then planting an amazing range of rare and exotic trees and shrubs. Then in 1997 they gifted the Taitua Arboretum to the people of Hamilton, and it has been open to the public and in the care of the Hamilton City Council ever since.

A huge thank you to Jane and the rest of the family for the invite to the memorial ceremony, what your parents have given to Hamilton and the Waikato is truly amazing.